Motorsport News

Alonso wins Monaco GP as everything goes his way

By Claas Hennig May 28, 2006, 14:32 GMT

Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Renault F1 team leads the pack in front of the Finnish kimi Raikkonen of McLaren Mercedes (rear) during the start of the Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco circuit, in Monaco, Sunday 28 May 2006.  EPA/KERIM OKTEN

Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Renault F1 team leads the pack in front of the Finnish kimi Raikkonen of McLaren Mercedes (rear) during the start of the Monaco Grand Prix at the Monaco circuit, in Monaco, Sunday 28 May 2006. EPA/KERIM OKTEN

Monte Carlo - World champion Fernando Alonso of Spain won the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time in his career as everything went his way on a controversial weekend.

Alonso first got the pole position when the original qualifying winner Michael Schumacher was ordered to the end of the grid by race stewards for deliberately blocking the Spaniard and others in the final lap of qualifying.

In the race, Alonso was assured of his fourth season win and the 12 of his career when first the engine of third-placed Williams driver Mark Webber blew up and second-placed Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren suffered the same fate three laps later.

Alonso won the 78-lap race over 260.520 kilometres in 1 hour 43 minutes 43.116 seconds from Juan Pablo Montoya in the second McLaren and Red Bull's David Coulthard, with Schumacher fighting his way up to fifth place in the end to salvage four championship points.

But Alonso raised his lead over Schumacher by another six points to 21 points, 64 to 43. Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella follow with 27 points each.

Schumacher's antics Saturday created a storm in the paddocks, with many drivers upset, the international media reminding of previous dubious incidents around the German and motorsport supremo Max Mosley on Sunday defending the sanctions even though he did not want to accuse the German directly of cheating.

Schumacher himself and Ferrari protested their innocence and the driver was expected to comment for the first time on the sanction after the race.

Ferrari had to start from the back of the grid for the first time with Felipe Massa joining Schumacher in the last row after recording no time in qualifying.

Up front, Alonso made the best of his pole position while Raikkonen overtook Webber in the second of the 78 laps on the famous 3.340-kilometres course.

The order did not change - and all 22 cars still running - until Webber's Williams blew up in the 48th lap which brought out the safety car until the wreck was lifted off the track.

Raikkonen, the 2005 winner, didn't even last that long as his race was over in the 51st when the engine seemingly overheated during the slower driving behind the safety car.

These incidents swept Montoya and Honda driver Rubens Barrichello into second and third.

But Barrichello's podium dreams ended when he was sanctioned with a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane and those of Toyota's Jarno Trulli as well when his car gave up in third place with five laps left.

The two-time Monaco winner Coulthard took third ahead of Barichello, with Schumacher, Fisichella in the second Renault, Nick Heidfeld in a BMW-Sauber and Ralf Schumacher in a Toyota also in the points.

The F1 season continues with the British GP in Silverstone on June 11.

© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur


COMMENT

FROM THE WEB

Further Reading on M&C

COMMENT on Alonso wins Monaco GP as everything goes his way

comments powered by Disqus

Latest Headlines in Motorsport

Monsters and Critics is Looking for Writers and Reviewers


Follow Us

Follow M&C on Pinterest

Search

Custom Search

Classic Games on M&C

Crush the Castle 2

Beer Pong

Bubble Bobble

Mah Jong Connect

Donkey Kong

Also Check Out

Product spotlight: Vice Merchants Sheets bring naughty fun to the linen closet

Product spotlight: Vice Merchants Sheets bring naughty fun to the linen closet
Thanks to a company called Vice Merchants, there is a new trend in bedding… sexy sheets for the same sex couple. ... more

Dieting, Italian Style – Bravissimo!

Dieting, Italian Style – Bravissimo!
Tisanoreica’s Old World Formula Meets The Latest In Medical Science To Lay ‘Waist’ To America’s Obesity Epidemic ... more

Memorial Day Weekend: Angry Orchard enhances Barbecue recipes

Memorial Day Weekend: Angry Orchard enhances Barbecue recipes
Memorial Day Weekend is sliding up on us, and we could not be happier about this. It means a few days where time is a little bit slower, and the food and drink are savory and satisfying but not too heavy. ... more

Abercrombie & Fitch's Big Fat Problem; everyone hates them (VIDEO)

Abercrombie & Fitchs Big Fat Problem; everyone hates them (VIDEO)
Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries may want to zip it. ... more

Product spotlight: Gaiam Yoga clothes beat high priced competitors

Product spotlight: Gaiam Yoga clothes beat high priced competitors
To know me is to know that I love wearing gym clothes… all the time!  ... more

On the Web

ZergNet